Busaba Soho Restaurant Review

wanderingazuki
5 days ago
4 min read

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Badge: 🌿Worth a Wander

Comforting Thai food that’s decent if not spectacular, but the service was the highlight — especially as a solo diner feeling a bit self-conscious. Friendly and attentive staff made the experience feel welcoming even before the theatre.

Read below for my full Busaba Thai Soho Restaurant review.

🗒️The Details

📍 Address: 106-110 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 0TR

🌐 Website: https://www.busaba.com/

📱 Instagram: Busaba Thai Soho IG

📞 Phone: 020 7255 8686

💷 Price Range: ££ (~£20–30 per person)

🕐 Typical Hours: Mon–Sun midday to late (varies slightly by day)

📝 Note - Theatre Deal:

Busaba advertises a pre-theatre set menu (£17 for two courses), but when I visited on a Saturday, this deal wasn’t available. Staff mentioned it typically runs Sunday–Thursday, and suggested the Covent Garden branch may offer it. I chose to stay put as this location was closer to where I needed to be.

✨ Definitely ask in advance, as availability seems to vary by day and branch.

📌Location & Getting There

🗺️ Busaba is right in Soho — perfect for a pre-theatre dinner before a West End show.

🚇 Nearest Tube & Train:

Piccadilly Circus — ~7 min walk
Leicester Square — ~9 min walk
Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth, Central, Northern lines) — ~8 min walk

🚌 Bus Routes Nearby:

Buses like 12, 188, 38, 55, 73 stop close by — many around Wardour Street or Tottenham Court Road bus stops.

💡 Tip: Being central Soho, it’s also very walkable if you’re already in Covent Garden, Leicester Square, or Oxford Circus.

🍽️Food

🍝 What I Ordered: Pad Thai + Oolong tea

😋 Pad Thai: Comforting and safe, but just okay. I wish I was more adventurous but Pad Thai is my go-to dish in a Thai restaurant. There was lots of noodles, prawns, tofu and bean sprouts, but it didn’t have that lively balance of sweet-nutty sauce I usually love. Maybe I should have asked for more 🤔

🍵 Oolong tea: Really nice and refreshing for the meal. They gave me a generous pot, more than enough for one person; although it became a bit bitter by the end (maybe I left it to brew too long).

Food Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

🤝Service

💖 Highlight of the meal.

Staff were welcoming, prompt, and attentive from start to finish — especially reassuring since I was dining alone and feeling a little self-conscious. I felt they went the extra mile to make me comfortable, taking my order quickly and ensuring the food arrived swiftly — perfect for a theatre-timed dinner.

My table initially felt a bit like a “staging” spot, as staff offered other guests a different seat whenever one became available. Eventually, a couple stayed at my table, which made the space feel cosier and more relaxed.

Service Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

🌃Ambiance

🌆 I arrived around 5pm on Saturday after Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part 1⚡. The restaurant was calm at first, but gradually became livelier as the evening crowd arrived. Typical of a Busaba layout, there are large communal tables where different groups share the space. Sitting in front of a mirror felt a bit weird at first — I was basically staring at myself while eating — but I got used to it after a while. In a way, it actually helped the space feel less big. If the table had been open, having to stare directly at the people on the other side would have felt awkward, so the mirror was a small blessing.

🔥 The restaurant did get quite warm (a few diners nearby commented on it too), likely from being close to the open kitchen, but it didn’t take away from the comfort for a solo dinner.

Solo dining felt totally doable here — even comforting — and if I return, I’d ask for the window bar area next time for a cosier solo spot.

Ambience Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

🧼 Cleanliness

🪥 The restaurant itself felt clean and comfortable, but the toilet setup was a bit odd — the toilets and sinks are in separate rooms, so you have to open the bathroom door just to wash your hands. Thinking about touching the handle after using the toilet made it feel slightly unhygienic, even though everything else was spotless.

Cleanliness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

🌕 Reflection 🫶

Busaba in Soho delivers solid, comforting Thai — not jaw-dropping, but reliable. For a solo dinner before a show, it’s a great choice: quick, friendly, and easy. If I was catching up with a friend or chasing outstanding Thai food, I might choose somewhere else — but for convenience and comfort, it hits the mark.

It is 🌿 Worth a Wander if you are in central London and craving for some Thai food

🧳 Your Turn to Wander In 🧋

Now it’s over to you — I’d love to hear your thoughts!

✨ What’s your go-to spot when eating alone?

✨ Can you remember your first solo dining experience? How did it feel?

✨ Have you ever wanted to try a solo meal but felt hesitant?

Let me know in the comments or drop me a message!